As speculated in my review, the new duos (which I’m still waiting to get official word on re: release date for in-stores, how long they’ll be available for, etc.) are definitely reincarnations of the trios from In the Groove. Five of the six duos correspond with a trio, while one duo requires taking a shade from two different trios to match–but for the most part, they are all quite similar. All swatches are applied wet (using water to dampen).

This & That is a duo that I had to take a shade from two different trios. The ivory side in This & That is warmer than the ivory in Cool, Calm, Collected. The beige side in This & That is indistinguishable from the beige (middle strip) in Making It Easy.

Mix & Switch compares closely to Making It Easy. The lighter peach side looks about the same in both. The coppery shade in Mix & Switch is more orange-based than in Making It Easy, which is a little browner and redder.

Sage & Wisdom is incredibly similar to Cool, Calm, Collected. I couldn’t tell the difference between the two in terms of color. The darker shade swatches slightly better in Sage & Wisdom than in Cool, Calm, Collected.

Heaven & Earth is a near perfect match to Blue My Mind. The blue in Heaven & Earth is slightly more pigmented and looks a little deeper, but they are very much the same, as are the two black shades.

Thunder & Rain matches Togetherness well–the purples are indistinguishable from each other, while the silver in Thunder & Rain applies smoother than the one in Togetherness, but the colors are about the same.

Pretty & Prim is quite similar to Fresh & Easy. The lighter pink seems a little yellower in Pretty & Prim compared to Fresh & Easy, but the darker berry shade seems the same. I had several readers ask how Pretty & Prim compared to Band of Roses, but the two are from different planets – not at all similar.

This & That is a combination of a beige champagne with soft champagne sparkle and a yellowed ivory white with a satin sheen. Dry, the beige shade seems a little darker, because when applied wet, it has more of a metallic sheen, giving it an illusion of being lighter through reflection. The ivory shade has a flatter finish when used dry than when used wet. The closest dupes in the permanent line would be Arena (slightly more peach) and Blanc Type (not as yellow in undertone).

Mix & Switch consists of a vibrant copper with strong orange tones and a soft peach with subtle orange tones. Both shades applied about the same whether wet or dry. The closest dupes in the permanent range would be Coppering (redder) and Arena (less orange). The deeper orange is also similar to Paparazz-she.

Sage & Wisdom is a mix of a lightened forest green–it has this feeling of seafoam green but it’s not aqua enough and too dark to be really a seafoam green shade–and a blackened green with a pearly finish. The softer green shade applies a little sheerly when used dry, while the darker green shade doesn’t apply well regardless of being used wet or dry. This duo was the worst of the six, because the darker shade didn’t have much color pay off. The lighter shade is most comparable to Pastorale pigment (long ago limited edition shade), while the darker shade is a darker version of Flourishing–not quite as yellow-based as Femme Noir.

Heaven & Earth pairs a silvered sky blue with a satin finished black. The sky blue appears bluer and brighter when applied wet than dry, and it’s a little sheer when applied dry. The black shade applies about the same whether used wet or dry. The closest permanent shades would be Moon’s Reflection (less blue, more iridescence) and Carbon (matte finish, though).

Thunder & Rain includes a rich violet purple with a pearled sheen and medium-dark silvery gray that has a really subtle mauve cast to it. Both shades applied nearly equally wet and dry, though the purple shade was a touch softer when used dry. The purple shade is most comparable to Violet pigment, while the silvery shade is a lighter, frostier version of Scene.

Pretty & Prim has a berried red with a metallic sheen paired with a light-medium, yellow-toned pink with a bright metallic sheen. When used dry, the berry shade is slightly sheerer than when used wet. The pink shade seemed about the same either way. The closest permanent dupes would be Cranberry, which is a little less pink, and Da Bling is a bit darker than the pink shade.

Mineralize Eyeshadows tend to work better wet than dry, because the product will bind together better and produce smoother and richer color. Overall, a lot of these shades work as well dry as they do wet, which is nice. When used wet, they will dry down and fade a little–they won’t quite retain the intensity they have when they’re initially applied (we’re talking you’ll see the dry down result in a few seconds, not hours later or anything!). The textures seem smoother, slightly less powdery than mineralize products typically are.

According to MAC, the mineralize eyeshadow duos will be available everywhere for 12 months, and then permanent only at freestanding/PRO stores. Available May 19th in North America in-store, June 2011 for International.

These all remind me a great deal of the In the Groove Mineralize Eyeshadow Trios: This & That is reminiscent of Soften the Mood; Mix & Match is a lighter version of Making It Easy; Sage & Wisdom is reminscent of Cool, Calm, Collected; Heaven & Earth is reminiscent of Blue My Mind; Thunder & Rain is reminiscent of Togetherness; and Pretty & Prim is reminiscent of Fresh & Easy. Please see comparisons here.

I’ll have full reviews up later this afternoon, but for now, here are a few group photos and swatches! 🙂

According to MAC, the mineralize eyeshadow duos will be available everywhere for 12 months, and then permanent only at freestanding/PRO stores. Available May 19th in North America in-store, June 2011 for International.